The Waif of the "Cynthia" eBook

They did not have to wait long. Precisely at
midday the bell rang for dinner. Mr. Bredejord
and the doctor, went to the table of the commander.
There they found Tudor Brown already seated, with his
hat on his head, and he did not manifest the least
inclination to enter into any relations with his neighbors.
The man proved to be so rude and coarse that he disarmed
indignation. He seemed to be ignorant of the
simplest rules of politeness. He helped himself
first, chose the best portions, and ate and drank
like an ogre. Two or three times the commander,
and Dr. Schwaryencrona addressed a few words to him.
He did not even deign to speak, but answered them
by gestures.

That did not prevent him however, when he had finished
his repast, and armed himself with an enormous tooth-pick,
from throwing himself back in his seat, and saying
to Mr. Marsilas:

“What day shall we reach Gibraltar?”

“About the nineteenth or twentieth I think,”
answered the captain.

Tudor Brown drew a book from his pocket, and examined
his calendar.

“That will bring us to Malta on the twenty-second,
to Alexandria on the twenty-fifth, and to Aden at
the end of the month,” said he, as if speaking
to himself.

Mr. Bredejord was about to answer, when a frightful
noise at the head of the staircase prevented him.
They heard cries, and barking, and a confusion of
voices. Everybody arose and ran on deck.

The tumult had been caused by Kaas, Mr. Hersebom’s
Greenland dog. It seemed that he did not approve
of Mr. Tudor Brown, for after evincing his displeasure
by low growls every time he passed and repassed him,
he finished by seizing him by the legs. Tudor
Brown had drawn his revolver from his pocket, and
was about to use it when Otto appeared on the scene
and prevented him from doing so, and then sent Kaas
away to his kennel. A stormy discussion then
took place. Tudor Brown, white with rage and
terror, insisted that the dog’s brains should
be blown out. Mr. Hersebom, who had come to the
rescue, protested warmly against such a project.

The commander arriving at this moment, settled the
matter by desiring Tudor Brown to put away his revolver,
and decreeing that henceforth Kaas must be kept chained.

This ridiculous incident was the only one that varied
the monotony of their first days of voyaging.
Every one became accustomed to the silence and strange
manners of Tudor Brown. At the captain’s
table they at length took no more notice of him than
if he had not been in existence. Everybody pursued
their own avocations.

Mr. Malarius, after passing two days in bed, was able
to crawl upon deck, he commenced to eat, and was soon
able to take his place at the innumerable whist parties
of the doctor and Mr. Bredejord.